Press Release
November 18, 2013

EARLY RELEASE OF IRA TO CALAMITY-HIT AREAS EYED

A Senate resolution is asking President Benigno Aquino III to order the early disbursement of part of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) share for 2014 of local government units (LGUs) hit by super typhoon "Yolanda" to help them expedite the rehabilitation and reconstruction of calamity-ravaged areas in the Visayas.

Senators Chiz Escudero and Ralph Recto jointly sponsored Philippine Senate Resolution No. 366 (PSRN 366) asking President Aquino to release in advance portion of the IRA of LGUs to help cities and municipalities meet the financial requirements of rebuilding and avoid a broader humanitarian and economic crisis.

"The LGUS in these areas will be primarily dependent on their IRA shares to provide them with the financial capability to cope with rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts," said Escudero, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

The same resolution filed with the Senate is requesting the Chief Executive to tap part of the proceeds from Malampaya, a natural gas project in Palawan that is expected to yield P26 billion in royalties next year, for the restoration of electric power infrastructure in provinces severely affected by the super typhoon.

According to Recto, who is Senate president pro-tempore, portion of the Malampaya funds can be channeled to the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to begin the rehabilitation of small power utilities groups and electric cooperatives in disaster-stricken areas.

Escudero and Recto also want part of the coconut levy fund to be earmarked to coconut farmers whose farms were destroyed by Yolanda, citing estimates by the Department of Agriculture which placed at P1.4 billion the typhoon damage on the coconut industry alone.

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